From Competence to Excellence: Developing Excellence in Vocational Skills.

Smeaton, Barry; Hughes, Maria; Hall, Graeme

The United Kingdom's Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA), UK SKILLS, and the Further Education Skills Competition Council conducted a collaborative action research project to improve students' vocational learning and skills through enhanced learning experiences. From February 2001 to April 2002, three further education colleges worked to develop and test improved curriculum models within their own vocational areas, which were as follows: (1) hospitality and tourism; (2) media, photography, and performing arts; and (3) fabric painting and decorating. LSDA and UK SKILLS held a residential briefing and planning event for all three teams, after which the teams worked to identify positive aspects of their existing curricula and additional elements that could be added to them to raise student performance levels. The following were among the practices and elements piloted: (1) a curriculum structured around small steps of achievement; (2) intensive tutoring; (3) integrated development of personal, key performance, and employability skills; (4) extra contact time; (5) different assessment strategies; (6) exchange visits; (7) work-based training; (8) application of professional standards; and (8) simulation of real-life experience when work-based learning could not be arranged. All three colleges confirmed that the project benefited students and staff involved in the project and colleges' staff and management as a whole. (MN)